Punjab must revisit its water question, says former Chief Minister
A former Chief Minister argues that a fresh, scientific assessment of water availability is necessary for the state's survival.
Punjab completed 60 years in its present form on November 1, according to an article in The Tribune. A former Chief Minister, who served two terms in the Lok Sabha and six times in the state Legislature, reflected on the state's history since the Punjab Reorganisation Act took effect on November 1, 1966.
The author noted that while the 1966 reorganisation settled linguistic recognition, it left issues like Chandigarh and river waters unresolved. The reorganisation led to the creation of Haryana and the transfer of hill areas to Himachal Pradesh, which the author said resulted in the loss of hydroelectric, irrigation, tourism, and forest assets.
Regarding the state's current challenges, the former Chief Minister stated that the wheat-paddy cycle has placed pressure on soil and groundwater. He described the current water crisis as a question of survival that can no longer be postponed or politicised.
The former Chief Minister mentioned that his government enacted the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act in 2004 because he believed the state could not surrender water required for its own agriculture and people. He argued that water disputes should not be decided on decades-old assumptions.
He called for a fresh, scientific assessment of existing water, considering changes in river flows, groundwater availability, and climatic conditions. The author also noted that as a border state, Punjab faces security challenges, including the use of drones from across the Pakistan border to deliver weapons and narcotics.